Roger Florès was born on December 31, 1916, at Tavira, Portugal, and spent his childhood and adolescence in Casablanca, Morocco.

In July 1937, he got enlisted into the Foreign Legion, and was initially sent to the 4th REI, and thereafter to the 3rd REI. When the Second World War broke out, he participated in the Narvik battle within the 13th DBLE, during which he incurred his first wound.

In June 1940, responding to General de Gaulle’s call, he went to England and joined the Free French Forces. In January 1941, Sergeant Florès left for Africa and served alongside British forces in Palestinian and Syrian companies. He went to Libya, where he was one of those who ensured the heroic defence of Bir-Hakeim during which he was wounded several times.

Captured by Italian troops, they boarded a ship. They had a shipwreck on the way but he survived and was detained in a prisoner of war camp. After a year, he escaped and got re-enlisted into the French Resistance.

He subsequently fought in the Vercors battles, followed by the Rhone valley ascent within the 1st French army, and finally, in the Colmar battles.

In 1945, the war in Europe having ended, he received French nationality, and subsequently volunteered to go and serve in the Indochina war. Sent to the 163rd transmissions colonial battalion, he remained there for three years.

After a trip to France during which he was promoted to the rank of officer, Second Lieutenant Florès entered the 7th BCCP which left for Indochina. He commanded his section and accomplished exceptional exploits of war.

At the end of his stay in France, he returned to Morocco within the 2nd BPC which became the 6th RPC. Parachutist monitor, Roger Florès was transferred to the 3rd Bigeard colonial parachute regiment, where he created the 4th company. Sent to Algeria, where the war had started, the one who used to answer the callsign "Bir Hakeim" once more exhibited his skills of efficient leader and excellent tactician.

After an interlude of three years in Madagascar, he returned to Algeria, where he became the commander of commando Guillaume. It was subsequently within the 9th RIMa where he formed the regimental pursuit commando, and finally, the 3rd RIMa. On April 1, 1966, Captain Florès retired from the army after twenty nine years of service.

Five years later, on December 7, 1971, it was Vannes, the city of the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment, where he took his retirement that Roger Florès died from a cardiac arrest; he was fifty five.

Roger Florès, Officer of the Legion of Honour, was wounded three times at the front and received 11 commendations. He was a holder, notably, of the military medal, the Second World War cross, the overseas operations cross and the military valour cross.

This extraordinary serviceman, always eager to go to the front and disregarding danger, having won hearts by his leadership skills, sense of honour, justice and good communicative, humour has given his name to the 44th batch of EMIA - Ecole Militaire Interarmes.